By Nora Lindqvist · October 28, 2026
Cracks running along a trunk or a major branch are the clearest warning. A crack means the wood has already started to separate, and wind will finish the job.
Mushrooms or conks growing at the base usually mean decay inside the trunk or roots. The tree may look full and green while its support is rotting away.
A sudden lean, especially with soil heaving up on the opposite side, means the roots are letting go. That tree needs attention this week, not next season.
Dead branches high in the crown, called hangers, can fall without any wind at all. If you can see daylight through a branch that should have leaves, call an arborist.
